USTA FLORIDA SECTION
Photo Op
Chanelle Van Nguyen
By Colette Lewis, www.zootennis.com
I
t didn’t take long for Miami resident Chanelle Van Nguyen to make an impact as a UCLA Bruin. Van Nguyen, a former Orange Bowl 16s champion, began her college tennis career in Westwood in January, and as of mid-February, she had yet to taste defeat. Part of a highly-regarded recruiting class, the 18-year-old right-hander joined with three other freshmen to lead UCLA to its first-ever Intercollegiate Tennis Association Women’s Team Indoor Championship, held this past February in Charlottesville, Virginia. Playing No. 5 and No. 6 singles for the Bruins, Van Nguyen posted four wins in four matches at the indoor championships, including the clinching victory in both the quarterfinals against Northwestern University and the semifinals against archrival University of Southern California. “There’s a big difference between junior and college tennis, and also in being homeschooled, so I’m still getting used to everything,” said Van Nguyen, who ended the event with an 11-0 record in collegiate competition to date. “I feel like I’m improving since I’ve gotten here, especially with the emphasis on doubles, which is helping my singles game as well.”
MARCH 2012
Photo: zootennis.com
UCLA Head Coach Stella Sampras Webster, the older sister of 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras, has been impressed with Van Nguyen’s accomplishments in her brief time as a Bruin.
“We knew she was a great player, but we’ve learned so much about her in this tournament,” said Sampras Webster. “She’s shown us a lot of heart, and it’s nice to have those strong players at four, five, and six. She’s come in and done a great job for us.” visit us online at www.ustaflorida.com
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